Smt. Parvatibai Sapatnekar
Within a period of one year only, that is in 1915, my son Murlidhar wasborn. When he was 8 months old we took him to Shirdi for Baba's darshan.Later I had two more sons — Bhaskar and Dinkar. We took them also to Shirdi-Dinkar was then only 2 or 3 months old. As soon as I placed him at Baba'sfeet, He lifted him in His hands and threw him in the air with a greatforce. Nothing happened to Dinkar and a devotee sitting around caught himsafely.In all I had 8 sons and 1 daughter.
Baba had said to me, "Take. One, twothree, four. As many as you want", and really He had thus fulfilled Hispromise. As soon as my first son Murlidhar was born, my husband's faith anddevotion to Sai Baba became firm and in years to come it developed so muchthat when my second son Bhaskar aged 10 years died, he collected all hisremaining sons in front of Baba's photo and said, "Baba '. Take away allthese. I shall not mind. But I shall not give up your bhakti (devotion)".Dear readers, such is the most interesting and instructive story ofSapatnekars — coming from the horse's mouth — from one of the chief actorsof the scene in Ch. 48.
I have tried to render it in English language sothat the Non-Marathi readers can share my joy.Sapatnekars originally hail from the village Sapatne. Later they shifted tothe Taluka town — Madhegaon. Practising law has been their familyprofession. Even to this day it is being followed by the members generally.The hero of this story late Shri Mahadev Waman Sapatnekar became awell-known pleader at Akkalkot and acquired a reasonably good property. In1961 some of the family members shifted to Pune.While talking to Shri Dinkar Sapatnekar, I learnt that his father wasinitially a devotee of Shri Dutta and used to visit Ganagapur quite often.Once there only, having lost his wife and son, his father to end his lifehad jumped into the river but Shri Dutta Himself took him out and orderedhim to go to Akkalkot.
After few years, as narrated above, Shri Sai Babadrew him towards Himself and fixed him forever in His devotion.From the above one point is clear that darshan and blessing of any saint isnot possible without one's good deeds and hard penance of past life. Onemore point also has struck me. Possibly Baba wanted to show that He and ShriDutta are one and wanted to give a push to Shri Sapatnekar's originalspirituality by removing his unalled for disappointment and sorrow offamily life. 'Chal hat' drama might be Baba's Leela for the same.
Really isthe wonderful skill and adaptibility of Baba in drawing His devotees towardsHimself and leading them towards spiritual uplift(After this interview, within a period of 11/2 months only, this noble ladylaid down her life at 4 P.M. on 30th October 1983. According to Hinducalendar this was the same day and month' (10th day of Ashvin) when Sai Babatook samadhi, except that it was in the second half (Vadya) of the month.Also like Sai Baba this lady breathed her last after the 10th day hadfinished at 3.51 P.M. and the 11th day (Ekadashi) had commenced. At the timeof death she was 88 years old and was conscious till last moment. Nextmorning at 7 A.M. that is after 15 hours when I went to pay my obeisance toher, the shine on her face was still there and a thought came to mind thatperhaps Baba had arranged my contact with her only 11/2 months before herpassing away so that Sai Bhaktas could hear her story from her own mouth.How kind and thoughtful of Him.)Lt. Col. M.B. Nimbalkar (Retd.)PUNE411 001.Om Sri Sai.Sushma.
